Flower-holder.



No. 774,288. PATENTBD NQOV. a, 1904.

, W. TEMBLETT & F. MoGOY.

FLOWER HOLDER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 25, 1904.

N0 MODEL.

W4 TN ESSES I/vvENToRs,

UNTTED STATES WVILLIAM TEMBLETT AND FORREST MCCOY,

Patented November 8, 1904.

OF CLEVELAND, onio.

FLOWER-HOLDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 774,288, dated November 8, 1904. Application filed January 25,1904. Serial No. 190,488- (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that we, WILLIAM TEMBLETT, a subject of the King of Great Britain, and FOR- REST MoCoY, a citizen of the United States, residents of Cleveland, county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Flower-Holders, of

which the following is a specification, the principle of the invention being herein explained and the best mode in which we have contemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguish it from other inventions.

Our invention relates to devices for holding cut flowers, and particularly to that class of such devices which are designed to be set in the earth.

Such invention has for its object the provision of a device of the above-named character which will embody economy of construction and a high degree of indestructibility.

The said invention consists of means hereinafter fully described, and particularly set forth in the claims.

The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention,such disclosed means constituting but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used. 7

In said annexed drawings, Figure l represents an axial vertical cross-sectional view of a device embodying our invention, showing same set in the earth with its outer member flush with the top thereof and the inner member extended. Fig. 2 represents a similar view showing, however, the inner member reserved in its position. Fig. 3 represents a horizontal section of the device, taken upon the plane indicated by line 3 3, Fig. l.

The outer member A of the device consists of a plain cylindrical sheet-metal shell open at both ends, the lower portion of such shell being provided with an inwardly-projecting bead a, which limits the downward movement of the inner member B, which normally rests upon said bead, as shown in Fig. 1. This inner member consists of two elements, an outer element 6 and an inner element 6. Element 6 consists of a sheet-metal cylindrical shell closed at one end and open at the other, the

both ends. 6 is made such that it may be inserted or removed easily from the member A and be caused material near such open end being provided with a plurality of inwardly-extending projections 6 The inner element 6 consists of a plain sheet-metal cylindrical shell open at The diameter of the outer element to rest upon a bead a whether its open end is upward, as shown in Fig. 1, or downward, as shown in Fig. 2. The diameter of the inner element 5 of inner member B is made such that it may be inserted or removed from the outer element 6 with facility, but also such that the projections b may be caused to frictionally bear upon its outer surface, so that when raised or lowered it may be caused to remain fixed in such raised or lowered positions when its lower end is removed from or not resting upon the bottom of element 6. These members and elements are preferably constructed of a suitable metal, such as zinc or galvanized iron, and the outer element 72 of inner member B is made water-tight, so that when in its upright position (shown in Fig. 1)

it may be caused to retain water. The height of outer element bis preferably made such that when the element is resting upon the bead at its top will lie flush with the top of member A, as shown. The height of inner member Z) is preferably made substantially equal to the depth of outer element 6.

When in use, the above-described device is I arranged as follows: The outer member A. is implanted in the ground with its top substantially flush with the surface thereof. .Inner member B is then placed therein, with the open end upward, and the required amount of water-placed therein. The inner element 6 is then given a position such as will most advantageously support the stems of flowers placed therein, and as the said inner member is rendered extensible by means of the abovedescribed structure it will be apparent that bouquets of flowers having various lengths of stem may be properly supported therein. Rain-water surrounding the above-described holder when so placed in the ground may drain downwardly between the members A and B. When the device is not in use for holding flowers, the inner element 6 is pushed downwardly into its extreme lower position and the entire member B removed from member A and placed in the reverse position. (Illustrated in Fig. 2.) ,In this position it will be seen that the closed end of the inner member Bis supported substantially flush with the top of outer member A, thereby closing the upper opening thereof. In this position rainwater may, as above, drain between the two members, thereby always imparting to the surrounding earth the condition of apparent dryness.

. The above-described device is particularly useful in the ornamentation. of graves, where it is quite essential to always impart a neat and wholesome appearance to the surface thereof.

Other modes of applying the principle of our invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any one of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means 1 be employed.

WVe therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as our invention- 1. In a flower-holder, the combinationwith an outer member open at both ends, of an extensible member resting within such outer member and closed at one end.

2. In a flower-holder, the combination with an outer member open at both ends, of a member resting within such outer member and closed at one end, such inner member consisting of an outer element and an inner element slidable within such outer element.

3. In a flower-holder, the combination of an outer member open at both ends and provided with an inwardly-projecting portion; an inner member closed at one end, comprising an outer element constructed to rest upon such portion, and an inner element slidable within such outer element; and means frictionally contacting with the contiguous surfaces of such elements to retain such inner element in any desired position relative to said outer element.

Signed by us this 20th day of January, 1904.

G. W. SAYWELL, A. E. MERKEL. 

